medo wrote:I think Kuznetsov will stay in RuNAVY until the new carrier will be build.

Eh, I think it will stay in Russian Navy until it's retired, not just until "the new carrier is built".IMHO, Russia will want at least 3 (even if only 2 active with full wing at any moment), just to actually cover both Pacific-Indian-Arabian and Barents-Atlantic-Med...and will probably keep Kuznetsov in service until at least two are built... Until then Kuz is keeping carrier aviation tradition alive (incl. how other ships interface with carrier+air assets), so that trained crews are ready for new carriers.I have weighed in before questioning the desirability of carriers for Russian fleet, but if they are deemed worthy, aiming for more than just one seems likely.

As mentioned above, it is docked for an inspection and repairs... and will likely remain for a year or two.

_________________“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion […] but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.”

― Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov Soviet Cojuza" is preparing to leave the dock 82 of the shipyard where it was almost three months. This was reported by Tass, the press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy.

How to tell the agency, the press service of the Northern Fleet, during this time have been renovated electromechanical system of the cruiser responsible for his move. In addition, the underwater hull cleared of marine sediments and painted.

After repair the cruiser returns to the staff parking lot in Severomorsk. You will then begin to restore its technical readiness (to work not specified).

The only Russian Navy aircraft carrier got to repair the dock 82nd plant in Roslyakovo in mid-May 2015.

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" belongs to the project 1143.5. During the design phase it was planned to be called "Soviet Union", but he was laid on the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolaev September 1, 1982 under the name of "Riga". In the process of building and testing three times renamed: first in "Leonid Brezhnev" and then in "Tbilisi" and finally, in 1990, the ship was given its present name. The fleet officially launched in January 1991.

Boiler and turbine aircraft carrier with a displacement of over 60 tons is capable of speeds of 29 knots. On board the ship, equipped with a take-off ramp, based aviation group. According to the project it was supposed to be 26 Su-27K (Su-33) or the MiG-29K and 24 Ka-27 and Ka-31.

The Russian Navy's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, undergoing three months of refit and repair work at a floating dock in Russia's northwest region of Murmansk, is getting set to head back to its Northern Fleet base, Navy spokesman and Captain 2nd Rank Andrei Luzik told Russian media on Thursday.

Undergoing repairs at the 82nd Shipyard in Roslyakovo, Murmansk region since May, the flagship of the Russian Navy is now set to return to its home port in Severomorsk, outside the port city of Murmansk.

"Logistical support forces of the Northern Fleet and workers of the 82nd Shipyard in Roslyakovo (Murmansk region) launched a joint operation to bring the flagship of the Russian Navy, the heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov, out of its floating dock. The bulk of the repair work on the aircraft carrier has been completed," Luzik reported, according to Russia's RIA Novosti.

The Navy spokesman explained that during the three months of servicing and repairs, the Admiral Kuznetsov saw work done to equipment of its electro-mechanical combat section, and to the ship's drive components, while its hull saw the removal of marine sediments and received fresh paint. Further work aimed at the ship's modernization will later be carried out at the ship's regular dock near the port city of Murmansk, with crews making preparations for the resumption of regular flights by the Northern Fleet's fighter wings.

The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only carrier, is presently the only aircraft-carrying Navy ship in the world whose pilots regularly perform flights at polar latitudes. Last May, the ship finished its seventh long-range voyage, which lasted nearly six months.

Constructed at the Mykolaiv South Shipyard (present day Ukraine) in the mid-1980s, the Admiral Kuznetsov only became fully operational in 1995, as the result of severe budget cutbacks to the Russian military following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The ship, designed to engage large surface targets and to protect maritime routes from enemy attacks, is capable of carrying between 41-52 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including Su-25UTG and Su-33 fighter aircraft, as well as Ka-27 and Ka-29 anti-submarine and assault transport helicopters.

The Northern Fleet press service previously rejected reports alleging that the aircraft carrier would be sent to conduct operations near the Syrian coast

MURMANSK, October 19. /TASS/.The flagship of the Russian Navy - the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrying cruiser has started planned combat drills in the Barents Sea, spokesman for the Northern Fleet Vadim Serga said on Monday.

"During fulfilling the planned combat training tasks in the Barents Sea, the Command of the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier prioritises integration drills for the crew that has not been out at sea for several months. The work of the mechanisms and equipment that have been renovated during the warship’s dock repairs will be checked particularly thoroughly," he said.

The Northern Fleet press service said that over the past weekend the aircraft carrying cruiser left her Murmansk base remain off the harbour in the northern sea. The crew drilled preparations for sailing to the combat training areas and conducted test check of the weapons and equipment for operations on the high seas.

Serga said that during the voyage in the Barents Sea the aircraft carrier’s personnel will also drill certain elements of the program for combat training of surface ships.

The Northern Fleet press service previously rejected reports alleging that the aircraft carrier would be sent to conduct operations near the Syrian coast. "No long march or some other combat and operational training measures are planned for the heavy aircraft carrier in the near future," the fleet’s press service said on Wednesday, October 14. "The ship will shortly go to the Barents Sea to practice planned combat training missions and provide support for the flights of pilots from the shipborne fighter wing of the Northern Fleet’s naval aviation."

The Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is designed to gain sea and air supremacy in the fleet’s area of operation to ensure its staying power, deliver air strikes against the enemy’s targets and support amphibious landing operations. The aircraft carrier entered service in 1990. The ship has a full displacement of 58,000 tonnes, a length of 304.5 meters, a full power of 200,000 hp and a speed of about 30 knots. In addition to its air group, comprising 24 or 26 fighters and 12 helicopters, the Admiral Kuznetsov is armed with anti-ship and air defence missile systems. The ship also has a ski-jump ramp and two aircraft elevators to support aircraft operations. The ship’s crew totals 1,300 and the number of personnel of its air wing is 660.

Russia launched its operation against gunmen of the Islamic State terrorist organization in Syria on September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian aviation grouping comprises more than 50 aircraft. The Russian Navy is also involved in the effort.

Overnight to October 7, the Caspian Flotilla ships delivered a massive strike on the IS objects in Syria, using Kalibr NK shipborne cruise missiles.

JohninMK wrote:Russian tug Nikolay Chiker attempting a tow operation in a pretty bad storm on the Admiral Kuznetsov off the coast of Spain. Not sure when this happened but the video was uploaded a week ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLSaA3pO6Bc

It happened in 2012. It was a training exercise and somehow the Kuznetsov lost power.

JohninMK wrote:Russian tug Nikolay Chiker attempting a tow operation in a pretty bad storm on the Admiral Kuznetsov off the coast of Spain. Not sure when this happened but the video was uploaded a week ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLSaA3pO6Bc

It happened in 2012. It was a training exercise and somehow the Kuznetsov lost power.

Thanks. I have been in some energetic storms at sea but nothing quite as bad as that one.

There is a good chance, that we will soon see Kuznetsov carrier in action in Sirya with its MiG-29K/KUB squadron. I think NAVY will be quite interested in carrier combat operation to get more funds for naval modernization.

There is a good chance, that we will soon see Kuznetsov carrier in action in Sirya with its MiG-29K/KUB squadron. I think NAVY will be quite interested in carrier combat operation to get more funds for naval modernization.

Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, will be modified in order to better accommodate the new aircraft it will be carrying, a representative of the Russian Navy said.

The Russian Navy will continue developing the capabilities of its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. The vessel will be retrofitted to accommodate new aircraft, Russian Navy Commander Assistant for Military and Research Work, Captain 1st Rank Andrey Surov told the media.

"We’ll keep Admiral Kuznetsov operational at all times. Right now we’re preparing the carrier for active duty. The vessel will be further developed, adapted and retrofitted to accommodate the new aircraft," he said.

According to Surov, the carrier’s appearance is likely to remain the same, but its capabilities will be adapted and augmented "in accordance with the development of the new aircraft it will be carrying."

Admiral Kuznetsov recently underwent several months of refit and repair work at a floating dock in the Murmansk Region near the Arctic Circle in Russia's northwest. In November the carrier took part in a military exercise in the Barents Sea.

Surprised the Kuznetsov isn't being sent to Syria. Even though Russian forces have the use of airbases there, surely the carrier crew and pilots could provide some relief to the ground bases, and also gain real-world experience. Given the French have got the Charles de Gaulle there, it would also be prudent to have an equivalent show of naval aviation force in the area.

RedJasmin wrote:Surprised the Kuznetsov isn't being sent to Syria. Even though Russian forces have the use of airbases there, surely the carrier crew and pilots could provide some relief to the ground bases, and also gain real-world experience. Given the French have got the Charles de Gaulle there, it would also be prudent to have an equivalent show of naval aviation force in the area.

The Admiral Kuznetsov has been going though repairs and is being upgraded, that is why it is not seeing any action, does anyone know where the repairs and the modifications are at?

RedJasmin wrote:Surprised the Kuznetsov isn't being sent to Syria. Even though Russian forces have the use of airbases there, surely the carrier crew and pilots could provide some relief to the ground bases, and also gain real-world experience. Given the French have got the Charles de Gaulle there, it would also be prudent to have an equivalent show of naval aviation force in the area.

Most probably it is related to transition from Su-33 to MiG-29K/KUB for carrier air wing and pilots and crews need some time to master them. For Syrian operations multirole MiG-29K will be far more suitable than air defense Su-33.

Interesting - That explains a lot! Fingers crossed the Kuznetsov will make it to Syria for the summer. It would be a good reminder to NATO that Russia both has and can properly project a carrier force, and it will hopefully make a substantive difference in stabilising the situation in Syria in a way that keeps the crazies out of the picture.

Following the collapse of the USSR, the Admiral Kuznetsov could have been inherited by Ukraine, which claimed ownership of it. In 1991, the ship, then assigned to the Northern Fleet, underwent tests with the Black Sea Fleet in Feodosia, leaving it in Ukrainian territory.

However, the first deputy commander of the Northern Fleet flew to Ukraine at once and stepped in. The vice admiral gave the order to raise the anchor immediately and head for Severodvinsk.

With its navigation lights off, the ship left its harbor and spent more than three weeks sailing to its permanent base without any aircraft and without two thirds of its crew, who were off-duty at the time.

Having saved the aircraft carrier, the vice admiral rightly judged that the sailors would “catch us by train,” and that the aircraft remaining at the onshore airbase would “get there by themselves.”

Read more at http://russia-insider.com/en/9-fascinating-facts-about-russias-largest-warship/ri12334